Suicide attempts among Turkish psychiatric patients.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the sociodemographic characteristics of those who attempt suicide in an Islamic country, the effect of religion on suicide attempts, and the frequency of DSM-III-R diagnoses in suicide attempters referred to the Gazi Medical School Psychiatry Department.


METHODS
Medical records of 185 cases of suicide attempts were reviewed.


RESULTS
There was a predominance of single, female subjects. Students, housewives, and employees represented the 3 largest groups. Drug overdose was the most common method of suicide attempt, and the most common DSM-III-R diagnosis was depression. The rate of repetition of suicide attempt was 43.3%.


CONCLUSIONS
Suicide is one of the major problems among Turkish psychiatric patients, although the Islamic religion strongly disapproves of it.
Coşar
B
B
Department of Psychiatry, Gazi School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Koçal
N
N
Arikan
Z
Z
Işik
E
E
D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology